As It Should Be - Chapter 2

Chapter 2

It was the mid-afternoon and the girls had left, lead by Li Min, one of Zuko’s courtiers, down to the city.  Just the boys remained, relaxing outside by the turtleduck pond.

“So, Sokka, you and Suki seem pretty close. How are things going with you two?” Zuko asked, after about ten minutes of silence.

“Great, really great. Suki is just so perfect. And her cooking is just…fantastic. Things couldn’t be better.” he replied, happily.
“You really love her, don’t you?” Aang remarked.
“Yeah, I really do. I think we’ll probably be together forever.” Sokka replied.
“Really, you mean like, marry her?” Aang ventured.
Sokka paused to think for a moment. “Yeah, I think I will. I mean, not now, but defiantly one day. One day soon. The more time I spend with her, the more I realise she’s the one.”
Zuko smiled. “Good for you, Sokka. I hope I get a good seat at the wedding.”
Sokka drifted off for a moment, thinking about his future wedding to Suki. “There would be so much cake.” he declared.
Zuko and Aang laughed.
“What about you, Zuko? How are things going with Mai?” Sokka asked.

Zuko turned away. “Well, actually, we broke up almost a year ago.”
“Ohh, too bad.”
“Yeah, but it wasn’t that bad. We just weren’t in love anymore. I think we got bored with each other. I guess we just weren’t meant to be. The break up was mutual.” he admitted.
Aang looked away, it sounded familiar.
“So, where’s Mai now?” Sokka asked.
“She’s moved to one of the smaller cities in the fire nation. She’s living with one of my generals stationed there. I saw them a little while ago. They seem happy. But I guess I’m just…well, sad, that she moved on so quickly – “
“And that you’re alone” Aang answered.
“Yeah.”

Deciding they needed a new topic, Sokka asked “So what about you Aang? How’s it going with my sister?”

Aang forced a smile. “Great, just great.” he lied.
Sokka could tell that there was something wrong in his voice. “Are you sure?”
“Of course. Why would I lie to you, Sokka?” Aang replied happily lying again.
Zuko could also tell he was lying, but decided to leave it be. If he and Katara were having problems, it wasn’t his business.

They sat talking and enjoying the sun until a servant came to announce that dinner would be served soon, and that the girls had returned. As they were getting up to leave, Aang came up to Zuko and asked him quietly, “Are you sad that you’re not with Mai anymore?”
“Yeah, a bit, but it’s better this way. There’s no point in staying in a relationship if you don’t love each other.” He shrugged,
Aang paused. “When did you realise that you weren’t in love anymore?”
Zuko laughed. “When I caught her kissing General Pang. But I could sense it way before then.”

They all moved inside towards the dinning hall. Aang walked along frowning.

~

The group all sat in the dinning hall enjoying the food cooked by Zuko’s head chef. His name was Elbar, of the earth kingdom. He had travelled all around the world to learn the cooking secrets of all the nations. Iroh had found him in a lowly tavern just outside the fire nation and instantly persuaded him to come cook at the palace. He and Iroh had become close friends and would spend nights drinking tea reminiscing about Ba Sing Se.
Iroh was dining with them that night. He sat at his nephew’s side, talking to Toph about all that had happened since they last saw each other. Katara sat on Zuko’s other side, next to Aang. They were talking about old times, when they were all living in the Western Air Temple.
“And that time you tried to tell us that joke, but only remembered the punch line. You were so awkward.” Katara laughed.
Zuko smiled. It was great hearing Katara laugh again. “What about when you came into my room and threatened me. You were so self-righteous…and scary.” he admitted.
Katara laughed even more. “Yeah, I was. I guess death threats are a bit over the top.”

Suki watched in disgusted as Sokka gorged himself on the rich cuisine. “Could you be any more of a pigdog?” she remarked.
Sokka stopped what he was doing and looked up. “Sorry.” he proceeded to eat as slowly as he could, taking tiny bites. He smiled.
Suki sighed. “I love pigdogs.”
Sokka smiled back and muttered “I love you,” before diving back into the food.

~

Later that night, when they had all gone to bed, Katara sat up in her room, brushing her hair. It was so strange being back at the fire nation palace. And it was great to catch up with Zuko after so long. He had grown so much more handsome. She frowned at herself for thinking that…but there’s nothing wrong with thinking people are handsome, is there? Of course not, she decided. Zuko was her friend, after all. And he was much taller now, with more muscles, as could be seen though his royal attire. And his eyes were as golden and warm as ever.

“What you thinking about?” asked Toph.
Katara looked up, surprised. “Toph, I didn’t hear you come in.” she said.
“I’m not surprised. What ever you were thinking about to have your heart racing like that must have been pretty distracting,” she replied
“What do you mean?” she said, feigning innocence.
“Don’t lie to me Katara; you know I can always tell when you’re lying. You were thinking about something, or more, someone. And I’m betting it wasn’t Aang.”
Katara blushed. “How would you know that?”
“You just told me.” replied the blind girl.
Katara looked away, ashamed.
“What’s going on with you and Aang? You speak like things are never better, but I can tell you’re lying. What happened?”
“Nothing happened, it’s just…we don’t…don’t…”
“Don’t what?”
“Love each other anymore, I guess.”
“Oh.”
“And we haven’t for some time. After a year, I could feel us just…fading. And now we’re only together because –“
“You don’t want to be alone.” finished Toph.
“Yeah,”

“Well, that’s tough. I guess you’ll just have to break up.” she replied.
“What? Why?”
“What’s the point in staying in a loveless relationship? And I mean it’s not like no-one saw it coming.”
“What do you mean?”
“Aang was just 12 when you two first became a couple. He was young and inexperienced. You were his first crush. It’s not like Sokka who’s had a few girlfriends already and was much older when he met Suki. It’s hardly surprising you two didn’t last.”

Katara knew she was right. That was the reason why she had been so hesitant to enter a relationship with him in the first place.
“So, what now?” she asked.
“Easy. Break up with him. Just explain it like I did to you. You’ve grown apart. If it’s like you say, he probably feels the same way. Trust me, once you do this you’ll both feel better.”  
Katara wasn’t sure.
“Trust me, Katara. I say this as your friend. It’s what’s best for both of you. You’ll only continue to be unhappy if you don’t do it.” Toph reasoned.

Katara thought about it. “You’re right Toph. I’ll break up with him tomorrow. It’s for the best.”

Toph smiled. “Good. And don’t think I’m going to let you drag me to a beauty spa again. I swear that mud had been used by wrinkly old ladies before we came.”

Toph left, going back to her own room. Katara shut the door after her, briefly looking at Sokka and Suki’s door before she did. At least her brother was happy. But now it was her turn to try and find happiness. Resolving to go and see Aang first thing in the morning, she went back to her bed and pulled back the covers, ready to sleep. But there was a knock on her door.

Wondering if Toph was back, she went and opened it to find Aang, looking at her sorrowfully from the hall.

“Katara, we need to talk.” He said, coming in.
I guess we’ll end it now, Katara decided. “I was going to suggest the same thing.”

They both began at the same time.
Aang smiled weakly. “Why don’t you go first?” They could both tell what was coming.

“I think we should break up.” Katara said.
Aang nodded solemnly.
“I know we’ve both been deceiving ourselves for ages now, putting it off because…we don’t want to be alone. But it’s no good. I still love you, but like a brother. I can’t do this anymore.”
“I agree,” Aang replied. “I see now that it was stupid to continue this. I did love you once, but I guess it wasn’t meant to be. I hope that we can still be friends.”

“Oh, Aang, of course we’ll still be friends. I told you, you’re like a brother to me. We’ll always be friends, and nothing will ever change that.” Katara pulled her former boyfriend into a hug, just the way she used to before all these romantic notions distracted them.
At that moment, the door knocked and opened to reveal Zuko. He looked at them and blushed awkwardly. “Sorry, I should’ve waited.”

Katara let go of Aang. “That’s ok Zuko, you didn’t interrupt anything.”
Aang smiled as if to back her up.

“I was just coming to say good night. So, well, good night.” he said, before leaving and closing the door behind him.
“Goodnight Zuko,” Aang called after him, completely oblivious to what had just happened.
“’Night.” called Katara. She turned back to Aang. “I’m so glad we’ve sorted this out. It’s been weighing on me for a while now. I suddenly feel so much lighter.”

“I know what you mean. Well, I’d better get to bed. And Katara?”

“Yes Aang?”

“Thanks for being such a good friend all this time. It will be nice to get back to just that, finally.” he replied, before leaving out the door.

Katara smiled. Aang had grown up so much. She was very proud. And now she felt much better. Toph had been right.